5 Things You Should Never Clean with Vinegar

Vinegar can be a handy tool when cleaning. But if you’re not careful you could also destroy the surface you’re trying to clean. Check out these 5 things you should never clean with vinegar.

Things You Should Never Clean with Vinegar - Don't Mess with Mama

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While vinegar is a great multi-purpose cleaning tool, there are a few things you don’t want to clean with vinegar. Some of these are because they can be harmful to what your cleaning, but there are a few cases where it can even become hazardous to yourself!

Cleaning with Vinegar

Vinegar is non-toxic, 100-per-cent natural with anti-bacterial properties. It’s a great product to use but keep in mind that when cleaning with vinegar, the best rule of thumb is to spot test an area first. This will make sure that you don’t accidentally ruin something when cleaning with vinegar.

I’ve put together a list of five things you should never clean with vinegar to make sure you don’t make the same mistakes I have in the past!

1. Iron

If you’ve searched around the internet, you may have found this trick to clean your iron. They suggest that you pour vinegar into your iron’s water duct. If you do this, you will damage your iron! Instead, look at your manufacturer’s guide and follow their instructions for cleaning your iron.

2. Computer Monitors or Smartphone Screens

Computer screens and smartphones will get fingerprints and other residue on them over time. However, DO NOT clean them using vinegar! This can ruin the oil-resistant coating that is on those displays and cause an even bigger problem. Instead, you a specialty cleaning tool or a microfiber cloth. Just because it looks filthy, doesn’t mean you need a heavy-duty cleaner to get the job done.

3. Anything with Bleach

You want to make sure you NEVER EVER mix bleach and vinegar! Combining the two can create chlorine gas, which is extremely toxic. When these are mixed with water, it will create hydrochloric and hypochlorous acids. This means that if you’re using it in your laundry or to clean your bathroom, you are creating toxic fumes for both yourself and anything it touches.

4. Waxed Furniture

While there are many homemade furniture cleaners out there, waxed furniture is the exception to the rule. There are furniture polishes out there that are designed for waxed furniture, and those are really the only option. If you choose to take a chance and use it on your waxed furniture, it can actually strip off the wax and leave your furniture looking dull.

Things You Should Never Clean with Vinegar - Don't Mess with Mama

5. Pet Messes

Vinegar works great as a deodorizer and can help remove many strong odors. However, if your pet has an accident, you don’t want to reach for vinegar. While it can help remove some of the odors that you will smell, it doesn’t remove the smell entirely for your pets. This means that they will continue to mark these spots and may even recognize them as okay spots for making a mess.

I hope that you keep this list handy the next time you go to clean to make sure you don’t ruin any of your surfaces by cleaning with vinegar. Don’t forget that these are just some of the many areas where vinegar is
not a good idea to use for cleaning. Proceed with caution and do your research before you clean with vinegar on any surface.

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3 Comments

  1. I once followed a recipe for leather cleaner that used a combination of vinegar and coconut oil. Stripped the color and shine right off my $300+ bag!!